A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 1 of 2): The Lepadidae; Or, Pedunculated CirripedesDarwin, Charles
Science
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 1 of 2): The Lepadidae; Or, Pedunculated Cirripedes
Darwin, Charles
Cirripedia; Lepadidae
_Affinities._--Considering the close affinity between the several
genera, there are, I conceive, no grounds for dividing the Lepadidæ into
sub-families, as has been proposed by some authors, who have trusted
exclusively to external characters. In establishing the eleven genera in
the Lepadidæ, no one part or set of organs affords sufficient diagnostic
characters: the number of the valves is the most obvious, and one of the
most useful characters, but it fails when the valves are nearly
rudimentary, and when they are numerous: the direction of their lines of
growth is more important, and fails to be characteristic only in
Scalpellum: with the same exception, the presence or abscence of
calcified or horny scales on the peduncle is a good generic character.
For this same end, the shape of the scuta and carina, but not of the
other valves, comes into play. In three genera, the presence of
filamentary appendages on the animal’s body is generic; in Pollicipes,
however, they are found only on three out of the six species. The number
of teeth in the mandibles, and the shape of the maxillæ, often prove
serviceable for this end; as does more generally the presence of caudal
appendages, and whether they be naked or spinose, uniarticulate or
multiarticulate; in Pollicipes alone this part is variable, being
uni-and multi-articulate; and in one species of Scalpellum they are
absent, though present in all the others. The shape of the body, the
absence or presence of teeth on the labrum, the inner edge of the outer
maxillæ being notched or straight, the prominence of the olfactory
orifices, the arrangement of the spines on the cirri, and the number and
form of their segments, are only of specific value.
Comparing the pedunculated and sessile Cirripedes, it is, I think,
impossible to assign them a higher rank than that of Families. The chief
difference between them consists, in the Lepadidæ, in the presence of
three layers of striæ-less muscles, longitudinal, transverse and
oblique, continuously surrounding the peduncle, but not specially
attached to the scuta and terga; and on the other hand, in the
Balanidæ, of five longitudinal bundles of voluntary muscles, with
transverse striæ, fixed to the scuta and terga, and giving them powers
of independent movement. In the Lepadidæ, the lower valves, or when such
are absent, the membranous walls of the capitulum, move with the scuta
and terga when opened or shut; and the lower part of the capitulum is
separated by a moveable peduncle from the surface of attachment; in the
sessile Cirripedes, the lower valves are firmly united together into an
immovable ring, fixed immovably on the surface of attachment. I will not
compare the softer parts, such as the cirri and trophi, of the Lepadidæ
with those of the Balanidæ, as my examination of this latter family is
not fully completed: I will only remark, that there is a very close
general resemblance, more especially with the sub-family Chthamalinæ.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account